Well, this started off as an easy idea: look at my albums, and decide which one was the best for every year since my year of birth (1987). I guess it kinda took off because when I'm writing about music I can't seem to quit.

I probably should've split this up in multiple journals, but since I was working in Word I didn't get to that. Ah well. A cookie for everyone who manages to read it all. Two cookies for everyone who suggests an album to me.

Final note, this took me 3 days to write and 2 more to add tags, so don’t complain if I made a spelling error somewhere.


1987
The Uplift Mofo Party Plan

My choice: The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
Runner-up: N/A

Oh crap, not the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Not that they suck, they just uh, well they’re just shit nowadays. As a matter of fact they were shit in ’87. Probably more shit then today. I don’t know if it’s funk or rock or a mix of styles but I know one thing: it’s out of control. And no, that’s not a good thing here. Get off the second spot in my all-time artists, would you? Still, no competition for them at all, so I guess they walk away with the top spot after all. Damnit, why can’t anyone make good music in such a totally awesome year?


1988
...And Justice for All

My choice: ...And Justice for All
Runner-up: N/A

Meh, just one album again. It’s better then the Red Hot Chili Peppers though, but probably not something I would’ve picked if there was any decent competition. Ah well, it has One, so that’s a big bonus.


1989
Disintegration
Doolittle
Mother’s Milk
The Stone Roses

My choice: The Stone Roses
Runner-up: Mother’s Milk

Yay, we actually get to choose now! The Pixies made a pretty good album, solid but it doesn’t have that little extra for me. Same goes for The Cure; I love their style but it’s just not good enough to take away the top spot.

Which leaves one out of three decent albums the Red Hot Chili Peppers made (hm, John Frusciante joined them first time for this album, I see a connection here), and the epynomous debut of The Stone Roses. And The Stone Roses take the cake here, for having I Wanna Be Adored and She Bangs the Drums and Waterfall and Made of Stone on one album. Now that’s clustered quality!


1990
Twin Peaks Soundtrack
Enlightenment

My choice: Twin Peaks Soundtrack
Runner-up: Enlightenment

Meh, no choice at all. Both are decent albums at best, so basically I picked the Twin Peaks soundtrack because I love the Twin Peaks theme as well as its vocal version, Falling. And did I mention Laura Palmer’s Theme is the definition of creepy tension? If you don’t, go watch Twin Peaks. Now. ‘Cause it’s a whole lot better then it’s music. Or that of Van Morrison, for that matter.


1991
Metallica
Dangerous
Loveless
Nevermind
Ten
Screamadelica
Greatest Hits II
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Spiderland
Hymns to the Silence

My choice: Screamadelica
Runner-up: Loveless

Meh, why couldn’t any of these albums have been released a year earlier or later? They would’ve been serious contenders in both those years, because every album on this list rocks. Besides Greatest Hits II and Hymns to the Silence, that is. First, we have two classics: Metallica and Nevermind. I’ve never really been a fan of either of them, but you gotta respect them for changing music as we knew it. At least Nevermind did, Metallica probably just changed the band’s music (in a bad way).

Then there’s Michael Jackson’s final decent album (before he decided it was more fun to mess around with kids then to make good music), the genre-defining Spiderland (say hello to postrock, everyone!) and yet another of the 3 decent albums the Red Hot Chili Peppers made.

And none of those make the grade. That is because the shoegazing classic Loveless is brilliant in its simplicity and Screamadelica is the best mix of dance and rock I’ve ever heard. So yeah, you might now now them...so get to know them, ‘cause they deserve the attention.


1992
Rage Against the Machine

My choice: Rage Against the Machine
Runner-up: N/A

No competition again, but this one actually deserves it. Now that’s a prime example of how to make music driven by emotion. And the album cover is awesome too.


1993
The Ultimate Experience
Vs.
Siamese Dream

My choice: Siamese Dream
Runner-up: The Ultimate Experience

Ah, the The Smashing Pumpkins. Now that’s a great example of how to make a good rock album. I love the balance on this one: on one hand they’ve got Cherub Rock, Quiet, Hummer and more guitars-blasting-you-away-goodness, and on the other hand there’s the slower Disarm, Spaceboy and Luna (which is one of the most gorgeous final tracks ever). Heck, even within songs they manage to create perfect balance (Silverfuck).

Oh but wait, there’s actually two more 1993 albums. Right...well, Vs. was a rather bad follow-up to Pearl Jam’s neat debut, Ten, and the Jimi Hendrix album is a collector. Since it’s also the collector which probably has his best songs on it, it takes the second spot. Although the The Smashing Pumpkins are miles ahead.


1994
Grace
Sky Valley
Dog Man Star

My choice: Dog Man Star
Runner-up: Grace

Tough choice again. Jeff Buckley’s only studio album versus the best album of stonerrock pioneers Kyuss vs. “that britpop band that didn’t get the attention it deserved because Oasis and Blur were constantly throwing mud at each other”. Kyuss is the first to fall: it’s good, but it doesn’t manage to reach the level that their spiritual succesor Queens of the Stone Age did. Still well worth a listen if you like that band.

Then there’s Jeff Buckley. It’s almost like he knew he was gonna die young and decided to just show off everything he had for Grace. He can rock (Eternal Life), he can sing a ballad (Hallelujah, move over Leonard Cohen!), he can sing like he’s still in church (Corpus Christi Carol), he can frickin’do everything. Such a shame he died too young.

But then there’s Suede. I say The Asphalt World, and you should fall in love (or start developing musical taste). Now that’s a song that’ll be high on my list of totally awesome songs. Oh, and did I mention it also has Heroine, New Generation, The Power, and much more. Matter of fact, I don’t think there’s a bad song on this album. Get over Brett Anderson’s voice, and you’ll fall in love with Suede too.


1995
Different Class
One Hot Minute
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

My choice: Different Class
Runner-up: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

First, let’s discard this Red Hot Chili Peppers album. Because it’s crap (hey, John Frusciante’s gone, I see yet another connection!) and you should skip it and move on to Californication or (prefered option) move back to Mother’s Milk or Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Now with that out of the way, let’s start wondering why the The Smashing Pumpkins didn’t manage to fill another album with nothing but good rock songs, but instead just mess around a bit. It’s also just too long, there’s definitely some good songs on here (1979 is the one most worth mentioning), but they’re stuck in the middle of a whole lot of mediocre songs. If they would’ve discarded those and just made an single-disc album, it would’ve been so much better.

Not that it would’ve been as good as Different Class. Although one has to wonder if good is the right word here. Because Pulp is catchy. That can be good (Michael Jackson) and bad (Panic! At the Disco). As you might’ve guessed, it’s a good thing here. Jarvis Cocker & company delivered an underrated britpop cd which sports classics like Common People, Disco 2000 and F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E. (now that’s an awesome title for a song). Don’t expect anything totally new or genius or whatever, just expect damn catchy songs with brilliantly sarcastic lyrics.


1996
Placebo
Ænima

My choice: Placebo
Runner-up: Ænima

Meh, two albums I didn’t listen too much. I still don’t manage to listen to Tool’s early work too much, because it’s hard to get into. Since Placebo’s a lot easier to get into, it takes the top spot here (but that still doesn’t make it awesome)


1997
The Colour and the Shape
BBC Sessions
Young Team
The Fat of the Land
OK Computer
The Healing Game

My choice: The Colour and the Shape
Runner-up: The Healing Game

What? Van Morrison over Radiohead and Led Zeppelin? Yes, because OK Computer is one of the most overrated albums in history (start flaming away, fanboys). And Led Zeppelin’s BBC Sessions consists of some live stuff, some rarities, a bit of everything really. It fails to deliver as a complete package (why would I want to hear Communication Breakdown 3 times on one album?) And Van Morrison, well, he delivers his best album of the ‘90s. It’s nice and raw and sounds like the man’s seen it all (which is probably true, anyway).

Then there’s Mogwai’s first; it’s good postrock but it just can’t live up to the big names in the genre. The Prodigy is something I only play when I’m either pissed or in need of energy so that probably doesn’t justify a nomination either.

And the Foo Fighters, they simply made their best album in 1997. Right in the middle of changing from the grunge that Nirvana left behind (their epynomous debut) to soft rock songs about how badly Dave Grohl misses Kurt Cobain and I don’t know what else (One by One / In Your Honor), they hit the right mix of both styles. It’s easy going at times (Doll, See You), then it’s pure rock the next second (Monkey Wrench, My Hero), but most of all, it has some very nice build-up in their songs (especially February Stars and New Way Home). And that’s enough for the top spot in the slightly disappointing year.


1998
Moon Safari
In/Casino/Out
Music Has the Right to Children
F# A# ∞
Flaai
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Without You I’m Nothing

My choice: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Runner-up: F# A# ∞

There’s only 3 1998 albums that seriously stand a chance. Moon Safari is nice but it’s too much ambient-electronic (awesome going-to-sleep-music though). The exact same thing goes for Music Has the Right to Children, while At the Drive-In is still a tad uncontrolled here. And Neet oét Lottum, I have no idea why I didn’t kick them off my pc yet.

So, Placebo’s second, and in my opinion their best. It has Brian Molko in top form, both in his lyrics and music. It has songs like Pure Morning, Brick Shithouse and of course Every You Every Me. It even has a hidden track called Evil Dildo. How cool is that?

Well, not cool enough to beat Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s first release. Altough I’m very biased here as they’re my favorite band. You know how metal bands always claim their album to be the “soundtrack to the apocalypse”? They’re wrong: this is. Especially the monologue in opener The Dead Flag Blues is creepingly beautiful. That voice! That perfectly fitting music! It’s absolutely brilliant, but there’s one major flaw to this album, and that’s the lack of true ‘explosions’. There’s a build-up, but there’s no finish. On their other albums, Godspeed You! Black Emperor show they know how to do so. Why not here?

I don’t know, but it gives Neutral Milk Hotel the chance to grab the top spot with an album filled with accoustic songs. Mind you, they miss notes occasionally, and the same goes for Jeff Mangum’s vocals. And it’s exactly that which makes it such a charming record. It’s quick-paced, it sounds like it was recorded in a single take, and it leads to songs like In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Two-Headed Boy and Holland, 1945. You won’t hear me complain.


1999
Vaya
The Ideal Crash
Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada
Come On Die Young
Showbiz
Greatest Hits III
Californication
Ágætis Byrjun
Back on Top

My choice: Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada
Runner-up: The Ideal Crash

So let’s grab the red pen first again: At the Drive-In is taking a big step in the right direction with Vaya but still isn’t quite there yet, Mogwai’s second is actually a tad worse then their first and thus still can’t keep up with the big names in the genre, Showbiz is a good start for Muse but their style needs some more developing. Greatest Hits III is the worst out of the bunch and Ágætis Byrjun is just plain weird music. It’s like they’re on acid in Iceland and tried to make good postrock but ended up making something that sounded more like long instrumental streched pieces of music with weird vocals. It’s that trippy. Then there’s yet another Van Morrison album, which is rather bad compared to The Healing Game.

And then there’s Californication. There’s no album I love more and hate more at the same time. It’s the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ sellout album, but it still has some good songs (although only the first 5 or 6 are actually worth listening, the final 10 or so songs are subpar). Then, on the other hand, it’s the album that pretty much introduced me to music. And it still has the classic opener Around the World, which is so very energetic. And did I mention John Frusciante is back and I see a connection again? Guess I’ll get my sentiments out of the way after all and deny it a medal (although it could get a bronze one, I suppose).

Because there’s dEUS. From Belgium (I know, I was surprised too. We should have bands like that in the Netherlands). You can’t really classify their music because it’s all over the place. But when you have songs like Instant Street (that outtro! Wow!), you deserve attention. And respect for making it big, hailing from Belgium and all.

But we’re not done yet. Because there’s Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s 28:37 masterpiece. 2 songs. Perfection from start to finish. The perfect build-up in Moya (now with an actual explosion, unlike the songs on F# A# ∞), and the very cool idea of adding music to an interview with some kind of manic anti-establishment street preacher in Blaise Bailey Finnegan III. And did I mention the climax of Blaise Bailey Finnegan III is arguably Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s best? It’s not music, it’s something above that.


2000
He Has Left Us Alone, But Shafts Of Light Sometimes Grace The Corner Of Our Rooms…
Antony and the Johnsons
How Strange, Innocence
Bang!
Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
Fukd I.D.
Black Market Music
R
Kid A

My choice: Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
Runner-up: R

Getting tired of the Godspeed You! Black Emperor yet? Well, I ain’t. I’m getting tired of A Silver Mt. Zion though. Because that stupid sideproject ended up killing Godspeed You! Black Emperor. This is their best album, but it still doesn’t make the grade when compared to the mothership. Ah well. We also have singing transsexual Antony and the Johnsons’s first album, which has the insanely beautiful Cripple and the Starfish but lacks more songs of the same caliber. Explosions in the Sky’s debut also lacks truly memorable songs, while Bang! is a nice collector, but nothing more then that. Fukd I.D. is a decent first EP of the band who will soon release a true classic, Black Market Music is a step back from Without you I’m nothing, and Kid A is a weird mix of Radiohead’s original sound with electronic bleeps.

Luckily, Queens of the Stone Age decided it was time for a second album. Good, I could use some decent stonerrock again. And that it delivers, with songs like The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret, Auto Pilot, Better Living Through Chemistry, and more. They’re really show that they’re growing as a band, a growth which would reach it’s peak on their next album.

But to get bet to where we started in 2000: Godspeed You! Black Emperor. With their second full-length album, they made the definitive postrock album and arguably the best album ever (it’s a coin toss with 2002’s winner). There’s so much beauty on here, it’s hard to imagine. Storm and Static rock, but the real beauty comes in the form of Sleep. The Murray Ostril intro, the build-up, then the explosion with what sounds like a singing saw, and, most of all, the outtro. It’s so very soothing, like someone accepting their faith. I want that outtro at my funeral, that’s how gorgeous it is. Oh, and then there’s still the fourth and last track, Antennas to Heaven. Go look it up on Youtube or something and listen the first 7 minutes. All I want to say is 5:32. It’s a musical orgasm, it’s that moment where every single muscle in your body is drawn to the music and you can’t feel anything, or want to feel anything. You just listen and are amazed at how someone could come up with something like that. Gets me everytime. And since that goes for the full album, this takes a very well-deserved top spot.


2001
Born Into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upward
Relationship of Command
Feel Good Lost
Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever
Precipitate
Pergola
Origin of Symmetry
Vertrokke
Tenacious D
Lateralus
One for the Kids

My choice: Relationship of Command
Runner-up: Origin of Symmetry

Discarding time! A Silver Mt. Zion gets kicked for the same reason as the year before, Feel Good Lost is a very ambient album which doesn’t really fit very well in Broken Social Scene’s discography, and Precipitate is, once again, a decent EP by the band that’s getting closer and closer to the release of a masterpiece. Pergola is a very good Dutch album, but fails to deliver a classic, while Vertrokke still needs to be kicked from my pc. Tenacious D is fun, doesn’t take itself seriously at all, but falls behind in the musical department because of that.

Lateralus is good, bit still a bit hard to get into, and One for the Kids is nothing but uncomplicated punk. Which leaves Explosions in the Sky’s best album. Postrock built on guitars instead of violins like Godspeed You! Black Emperor does. That makes it a tad worse, but it’s still one of the better bands in the genre, and definitely worth a listen if you like postrock.

However, Muse delivers their classic Origin of Symmetry, in my opinion their best album, which manages to find that delicate balance between good rock songs and catchiness. While it’s a tad too easy music in my opinion, it’s undeniably good music.

That also goes for At the Drive-In’s final studio album. They manage to reach that level where they have total control over their music, and that’s a good thing is you’re making emo-punk-core or whatever it’s called. I like to call it Rage Against the Machine on speed. You thought Zack De La Rocha sang with emotion? Wait ‘till you here opener Arcarsenal. But it’s not just that, they also manage to make almost ballad-like songs like Non-Zero Possiblity, and get away with it. It’s the kind of music that gives you energy or makes your anger go away, and earns the top spot for managing to mess with your emotions like that.


2002
Source Tags & Codes
You Forgot It in People
One by One
The End of the Beginning
Yanqui U.X.O.
The Black EP
Interpol EP
Turn on the Bright Lights
Songs for the Deaf
Spinvis
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
The Underdog EP

My choice: Turn on the Bright Lights
Runner-up: You Forgot It in People

I hate 2002. Why release 4 awesome albums in one year? First, let’s start kicking stuff out again. The Foo Fighters lose the balance they had before, and make too much ballads in my opinion, God Is an Astronaut’s first is nowhere as good as their second, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s final studio album is still very good, but falls behind Slow Riot for New Zero Kanada and Lift yr. skinny fists like antennas to heaven.

Then there’s two EP’s by Interpol which are very good, but not as good as their classic album released in the same year, Spinvis’ dreamy and poetic debut, Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot which fails to deliver an experience you’ll remember, and a rather simple EP by Yellowcard that’s not worth much more then a mention.

The same thing does not go for Source Tags & Codes. It’s a messy album, there’s little structure to be found in the music, but it works. I don’t know hoe, but it manages to grab you by throwing what seems like totally random pieces of music at you. Thumbs up for that.

Thumbs up for the Queens of the Stone Age as well. They deliver their best album in 2002. Not only is the music great, but the entire concept of a car journey where the radio stations are constantly switched is very refreshing.

However, even they lose out to another slightly random album, You Forgot It in People by Broken Social Scene. Dropping the ambient from their debut and trading it in for highyl multi-instrumental pieces, they deliver a classic. A beautifully named classic at that, and one who delivers songs like Anthems for a Seventeen-Year Old Girl, Almost Crimes, Lover’s Spit and much more. It’s one of the most underrated bands out there, but there’s a song in here for everyone, trust me.

And then, there’s